Optimize Reaction Conditions

Lower temperature and pressure: Reducing energy-intensive conditions cuts emissions, especially if the energy comes from fossil fuels.

Catalysts: Use more efficient catalysts to speed up reactions, lower energy requirements, and increase yields.

Solvent selection: Shift to greener solvents like water, supercritical CO₂, or ionic liquids instead of harmful organic solvents.

Switch to Renewable Feedstocks

Use bio-based or waste-derived raw materials (e.g., plant oils, bioethanol) instead of petrochemicals.

Explore carbon capture utilization (CCU) — where CO₂ is used as a feedstock in producing chemicals like methanol or polycarbonates.

Improve Atom Economy

Design reactions where most atoms from reactants end up in the desired product. This minimizes waste and side products.

For example, catalytic hydrogenation is more efficient than traditional reduction methods that produce salts as waste.

Implement Energy-Efficient Technologies

Microreactors: These enable better heat transfer and more precise control of reactions, reducing energy needs.

Electrochemical synthesis: Use electricity (preferably renewable) to drive reactions rather than traditional thermal methods.

Photocatalysis: Harness sunlight for energy-intensive reactions like water splitting or CO₂ reduction.

Waste and By-product Management

Turn waste into useful by-products — e.g., CO₂ from fermentation can feed algae for biofuel production.

Develop processes that avoid hazardous or carbon-heavy waste, or use closed-loop systems to recycle solvents and reagents.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Regularly evaluate the environmental impact of the entire production chain — from raw materials to disposal — to identify areas for improvement.